Sheet-metal lath



Nov. 23, 1926.

J. H. DEAN SHEET METAL LATH Filed Sept. 18, 1925 [7,2126% for @1455 #054 j LLRI RNEYS" J a o Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

JAMES H. DEAN, OF LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB T NORTHWESTERN nx- PATENT OFFICE- PANDED METAL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SHEET-METAL LATE.

Application filed September 18, 1925. Serial No. 57,130.

This invention relates to improvements in ribbed lath made from expanded sheet metal. The invention consists in a ribbed lath haying longitudinally extending ribs formed 1n (5 unslitted sections of the lath with diamond shaped meshes arranged between the ribs and with the meshes of the central row of greater area than the other meshes, whereby in ap-' plying plaster to the laths the portion of the plaster that is forced through the central row of large meshes will form a key or lock .to hold the plaster in place while only small portions of the plaster will be forced thorugh the smaller meshes.

This construction thus secures quite a sav' ing in plaster over what is required when the meshes are all of the size of the large mesh. In other words, by making all of the meshes narrow except those of the central row I lock 2 the plaster securely to the lath and use a minimum amount of plaster.

The invention consists generally in the c011- struction and combination hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a lan view of a section of sheet metal with t e ribs formed therein and with the sheet slitted to produce my newly invented lath;

Figure 2 is an elevation showing a section of the lath in position on an upright building stud;

igure 3 is a Section of line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a similar section showing the plaster applied thereto.

In the drawings 2 represents a sheet of 4 metal such as is generally used in the making of expanded metal lath. This sheet is provided with unslitted longitudinally extending portions 3, 3, 3 in which are formed the parallel longitudinally extending ribs 4, 4, 4.

I form in each longitudinal space betweenthe ribs a series of diagonally extending parallel slits 5, 6, the slits between any two of the ribs diverging from the slits between the next adjacent ribs as clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2.

After the longitudinal ribs 4 are formed and the slits 5 as shown in Figure 1 are produced by any suitable means, the sheet is expanded into the form shown in the other figures of the drawing. As one strand of each of the outer diamond meshes is formed by the margin of the unslitted portion of the sheet the two outer rows of meshes will not be opened to as great an extent as the center row of meshes. The center meshes will therefore be of greater area than the marginal meshes and when thelath is in position, as shown in Figures 2. 3 and 4 of the drawings, and plaster is applied thereto, a considerably larger amount of plaster will pass through the center meshes formin a key or lock for the laster at the back 0% the lath, as shown in igure 4 of the drawing. These locks will be formed with every central row of meshes and thereby the sheet of plaster will be firmly and securely locked to the lath. Only a small amount of plaster will pass through the marginal meshes as indicated in Figure 4:.

I have indicated the strands of the outer meshes that are formed by the edges of the unslitted portions of the sheet by the reference numerals 7 7; the strands of the outer meshes that are connected to said unslitted portions by the reference numerals 8, 8, and the strands enclosing the central meshes by the reference numerals 9 and 10, the strands 9 being common to both the central and the outer meshes.

As will be seen by the sectional drawings (Figures 3 and 4) the strands 7 and 8 are practically parallel with the outer or finished surface of the applied plaster and in substant-ially the same plane as the unslitted portions of the sheet, while the strands 9 and 10 stand nearly on edge or at a substantial angle to the plane of the unslitted portion of the sheet, thus making it easier for the plaster, when applied, to pass between the edgewise strands and through the central meshes.

By providing the central rows of large meshes a secure bonding of the plaster to the lath is obtained and there is a material saving in the amount of plaster used over what would be required if the meshes were all of the large size here indicated for the central rows. By this construction I also secure lath of proper width with a minimum amount of steel to which the plaster can besecurely bonded. Heretofore, so far as I am aware, all of the meshes in any sheet of expanded metal lath have been of uniform size or area.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lath comprising a metal sheet having a series of parallel unslitted sections extending longitudinally of the sheet with longitudinally extending ribs formed centrally in said unslitted sections, "diamond shaped meshes arranged along the margins of said unslitted sections, one wall of each mesh being formed by an ed e of an unslitted section, the other walls 0 each said mesh being formed by strands each having oneend integral with the edge of the unslitted section and' extending diagonally therefrom, and strands formed integrally with and connecting the ends of said diagonal strands and extending substantially parallel with the edges of the unslitted sections, strands extending diagonally between said last named strands and forming therewith a row of diamond shaped meshes of larger area intermediate the mar inal meshes.

2. A ath comprising a metal sheet having a series of parallel unslitted sections extending longitudinally of the sheet with rows of meshes arranged between each, pair of unslitted sections, e meshes of the central row being of greater area than the meshes of the other rows.

4; A lath comprising a metal sheet having a series of unslitted' sections extendin longitudinally of the sheet with a plurality of rows of expanded meshes between each-pair of unslitte ing in area.

11 witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of September, 1925.

JAMES H. DEAN.

sections and said meshes vary- 

